Covid-19: how tech will transform your kids' education

The Economist

3 Sept 202113:02

Summary

TLDRThe COVID-19 pandemic drastically altered education, prompting a global shift to online learning. This disruption highlighted technology's potential to transform the sector, leading to increased edtech investment and innovative tools like personalized learning apps. Despite challenges, the pandemic accelerated digital integration in education, offering new opportunities for hybrid classrooms and skill development essential for students' futures.

Takeaways

🏫 The COVID-19 pandemic caused the largest disruption to education, forcing a rapid transition to online learning for students and teachers worldwide.
👨‍🏫 Teachers had to quickly adapt to new technologies for online teaching, which was challenging due to the lack of prior digitization in education.
👩‍👧 Parents gained a new appreciation for the challenges teachers face, as they witnessed firsthand the difficulties of remote learning management.
🌳 The traditional summer camp experience evolved to include 'COVID catch-up camps' to help students recover from the learning loss experienced during the pandemic.
🏛️ San Francisco provided additional summer classes for public school children, especially those from low-income families who struggled with distance learning.
🌐 The pandemic accelerated the adoption of edtech, with schools rushing to provide internet access and devices to students to facilitate online learning.
💡 Edtech companies responded to increased demand by designing apps and software to support teachers, not replace them, and improve classroom efficiency.
📈 Investment in edtech is expected to double from $200 billion in 2019 to over $400 billion by 2025, indicating a significant shift towards digital education tools.
🤖 Personalized learning experiences are being enabled by AI and machine learning, as seen with apps like Century, which adapt to individual student needs.
🎓 The use of technology in education is not without concerns, with debates about screen time and the digital divide affecting students' access to online learning.
🔮 The pandemic has sparked discussions about the future of education, with some families and schools considering the potential of long-term remote learning options.

Q & A

How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact education globally?
-The COVID-19 pandemic caused the largest disruption to education in modern history, forcing schools to close and transition to online learning, affecting 1.4 billion students across 190 countries by mid-April 2020.
What challenges did teachers face when shifting to online classes during the pandemic?
-Teachers scrambled to adapt their classes online with little notice, often lacking sufficient working computers and facing skepticism from both parents and students about the effectiveness of remote learning.
What was the 'Summer Together initiative' and why was it created?
-The 'Summer Together initiative' was created in San Francisco to provide extra summer classes for public-school children, especially those from low-income families, who struggled with distance learning due to lack of support and structure at home.
Why has the digitization of education been slow despite technological advancements in other sectors?
-Education has been slow to digitize due to resistance to change, a preference for traditional classroom settings, and the high cost of implementing new technologies that could potentially fail.
How did the pandemic influence the adoption of edtech in schools?
-The pandemic sparked a 'techceleration' in education, leading to an increased demand for edtech solutions as schools rushed to provide online learning, resulting in millions of learners receiving emergency internet access and devices.
What is the Century app and how does it assist in personalized learning?
-Century is an app that combines artificial intelligence, machine learning, neuroscience, and learning science to personalize and differentiate learning for every student, providing educators with instant insights and intervention strategies to improve student outcomes.
How does the use of avatars in teacher training at the University of Virginia benefit future educators?
-The use of avatars allows trainee teachers to practice their lessons in a low-stakes environment, receive feedback, and refine their teaching skills before working with real students.
What are the potential benefits of remote learning for students with specific needs?
-Remote learning can be beneficial for students with anxiety issues or those who prefer a one-on-one learning environment, as it can provide more personalized attention and a wider range of course offerings.
How has the pandemic affected parents' engagement with their children's education?
-The pandemic has increased parent engagement due to being at home and listening to lessons, as well as the use of technology that makes it easier for parents to stay informed about their children's progress.
What is the main barrier to the success of edtech and how can it be addressed?
-The main barrier to the success of edtech is financial, requiring investment in under-resourced schools to ensure they have proper internet access and facilities. Without this, inequities in the classroom and across schools may develop.
What role does technology play in the future of education according to the script?
-Technology is seen as playing a vital role in aiding education, with teachers recognizing the benefits of a hybrid classroom and the unique skills students can gain from using edtech that will be valuable for their future.

Outlines

00:00

🏫 Disruption and Transformation in Education

The COVID-19 pandemic caused the largest disruption to education in modern history, forcing teachers to rapidly adapt to online teaching and parents to appreciate the challenges faced by educators. This upheaval led to a realization of technology's potential to revolutionize education. The script discusses the introduction of 'COVID catch-up camps' for students who struggled with online learning due to various issues, such as lack of structure and noisy environments. The pandemic also highlighted the disparities in access to technology and support for distance learning, prompting initiatives like San Francisco's 'Summer Together' to address these gaps. The script also touches on the slow digitization of education compared to other sectors and the resistance to change due to the high cost of being wrong in education.

05:02

🌟 Personalized Learning and EdTech Innovations

This paragraph introduces Century, an app that provides personalized learning experiences through artificial intelligence, machine learning, neuroscience, and learning science. It allows teachers to monitor student progress and intervene when necessary, reducing the time spent on administrative tasks. The app's creator, Priya Lakhani, aimed to address the one-size-fits-all approach in education and the time-consuming nature of traditional assessment methods. The paragraph also discusses the blended learning approach and the importance of technology in laying the foundation for future jobs, as well as the use of avatars in teacher training to practice and refine teaching skills in a low-stakes environment.

10:04

🌐 The Future of Remote Learning and EdTech

The final paragraph explores the potential long-term impact of the pandemic on education, with some parents and districts considering remote learning as a viable option even post-pandemic. It discusses the benefits some students experienced, such as reduced anxiety and increased personalization, as well as the challenges, including the digital divide and the need for financial investment in under-resourced schools. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of advanced technology in education and the potential for a hybrid classroom model, where teachers and students gain new skills that are essential for the future. It concludes by acknowledging the vital role of teachers and the辅助 role technology can play in enhancing education.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic refers to the global outbreak of the novel coronavirus that began in late 2019. In the context of the video, it is the primary catalyst for the shift to online learning and the subsequent changes in education. The script describes how the pandemic led to the largest disruption to education in modern history, forcing teachers to quickly adapt their classes to an online format.

💡Online learning

Online learning is a form of education where instruction is delivered via the internet. The video discusses the challenges and adaptations that occurred as a result of schools transitioning to online learning during the pandemic. It mentions the difficulties students faced, such as a lack of structure and distractions at home, as well as the innovative solutions schools implemented to support students.

💡Summer camp

A summer camp is a traditional program for children during the summer months, often focusing on outdoor activities, sports, or educational subjects. The video introduces a new type of summer camp, the 'COVID catch-up camp,' designed to help students recover from the learning losses experienced during the pandemic by providing additional educational support.

💡Personalised learning

Personalised learning is an educational approach that tailors instruction to meet the individual needs, skills, and interests of each student. The video mentions the use of technology, such as the Century app, to provide a personalised learning experience. This approach is highlighted as a way to improve student outcomes by adapting to their specific learning needs.

💡Edtech

Edtech, short for educational technology, refers to the use of technology to enhance or facilitate learning and teaching. The script discusses the rapid growth and response of the edtech sector during the pandemic, as schools sought digital solutions to continue education. Edtech is positioned as a key factor in the future of education, with investments expected to double by 2025.

💡Digital divide

The digital divide refers to the gap between those who have access to technology and the internet and those who do not. The video raises concerns about the potential for increased use of remote learning to exacerbate this divide, as not all students have the necessary resources at home to engage in online education effectively.

💡Hybrid classroom

A hybrid classroom is an educational model that combines traditional in-person learning with online or digital elements. The video suggests that teachers are beginning to see the benefits of this approach, as it allows for a more flexible and inclusive learning environment that can accommodate various student needs.

💡Teacher support

Teacher support refers to the assistance and resources provided to educators to help them effectively teach their students. The script notes that during the pandemic, teachers faced significant challenges in transitioning to online platforms and required support to stay engaged with their students and maintain educational quality.

💡Technology in education

The use of technology in education is a broad concept that encompasses various digital tools and platforms used to facilitate learning and teaching. The video highlights the potential of technology to transform the education sector, particularly in light of the pandemic, by providing new ways to engage students and deliver content.

💡Innovation resistance

Innovation resistance is the reluctance or opposition to adopting new ideas, methods, or technologies. The video discusses how both parents and teachers initially pushed back against the integration of technology in classrooms, preferring traditional methods. However, the pandemic forced a reevaluation of this stance, leading to greater acceptance of tech in education.

💡Virtual public school

A virtual public school is an institution that provides education entirely online, often following the curriculum and standards of a public school system. The video features students who attend such a school, discussing the benefits of personalized course offerings and the flexibility of learning from home, which can be particularly advantageous for students with specific learning needs or preferences.

Highlights

The COVID-19 pandemic caused the largest disruption to education in modern history, forcing a rapid transition to online learning.

Teachers and parents alike had to adapt to new challenges, with parents gaining a deeper appreciation for the work of teachers.

The shift to online classes revealed the potential of technology to transform education, a sector critical for the world's future.

A new 'COVID catch-up camp' was introduced for students who struggled with the transition to online learning.

Students reported a chaotic experience during the pandemic, with a lack of structure and engagement in online classes.

San Francisco provided extra summer classes for public-school children, especially those from low-income families who struggled with distance learning.

The pandemic highlighted the need for support and structure at home for successful distance learning.

By mid-April 2020, over 1.4 billion students worldwide were affected by school and university closures.

The education sector has been slow to digitize, with classrooms remaining largely unchanged for decades.

The pandemic accelerated the adoption of technology in education, with millions of learners gaining emergency internet access and devices.

Edtech companies responded to increased demand by designing apps and software to support teachers.

The Century app, combining AI with learning science, offers personalized learning experiences and insights for educators.

Teachers are now able to analyze student data more effectively, reducing the time spent on administrative tasks.

The use of technology in the classroom is seen as crucial for laying the foundation for future job requirements.

Trainee teachers at the University of Virginia use avatars and simulations to practice their lessons and receive feedback.

The pandemic raised questions about the necessity of traditional classroom teaching and the potential of remote learning.

Some students and parents found remote learning beneficial, particularly for those with anxiety or other issues that made in-person learning challenging.

There is a risk that increased remote learning could widen the digital divide, especially for students without adequate resources.

For edtech to succeed, investment is needed in under-resourced schools to ensure proper internet access and facilities.

The pandemic underscored the importance of teachers and the potential of technology to aid education, suggesting a future with a hybrid classroom model.